Because you’re reading this website, we’re assuming that you’re as much of a fan of cars and driving as we are. Cars are aspirational, and finally having the power to buy and own one is a major milestone. So the buying process should go as smoothly as possible, right? Good thing we have accommodating car sales agents and executives to answer all our questions and quell our worries, with promises of a reliable car and good after-sales service. And we’re pretty sure that car companies will insist that you are always right. But just like how consumers complain about some brands’ quality of service, the people behind these badges also have their grievances. Here are some reasons why they might resent you, but only a teeny bit of course: 1) You didn’t buy their car Picture this: You’ve talked to the helpful sales agent and scheduled multiple test drives. You even haggled to get the best deal and payment terms plus freebies. You promise to have the money prepared. The sales agent gets your order request approved and processed the necessary papers. But then you stop replying to texts and follow-ups. You then buy from another dealership, or worse, from another brand. According to a salesperson, they have a quota of 20 customers per day in their dealership. They would really appreciate it if you respect their time and effort. 2) You have an ulterior motive You’ve approached the pretty sales agent. But instead of asking her about the seating capacity or the latest down payment promos of the model you’re eyeing, you ask if she’s single and you try to add her on Facebook. Apparently, some prospective clients approach attractive agents and propose that they will buy a car in exchange for a date. These people are conditioned to be friendly and accommodating, so it puts them in a quandary on how to deal with sleazeballs. 3) You think you deserve more than what you’re getting You probably brought your car in for a regular service, but then you asked the service advisor to include another repair job. This other job is totally unrelated to the work that will be done on your car and not even covered by the warranty, but you want it free of charge, of course. If you’re a regular client, how can they not throw this one in for free for a loyal customer? 4) You know better than their service technicians While your car is being serviced, you show everyone that you just happen to know more about your ride than the technicians. That’s good of course. A driver should know his car better than anyone else. However, please note that these technicians are trained by car companies to service your car and to do a good job of it. It won’t help if you insist that your car must get some type of job done while citing Google, online forums, and car club buddies as your reference. 5) You’re too outspoken online You’ve trolled their social media accounts and left nasty comments on car reviews of automotive websites. Have you bought any of their cars? Have you ever test driven a unit? 6) You da VIP You’ve namedropped almost everyone you know and asserted yourself as a VIP client. You brag about the sedan, SUV, and pickup you bought from the dealership. So why can’t they give you the lowest of the low payment option, huh? But car companies don’t really hate you, of course not. But just like how you expect them to give you the ultimate client experience, they would likewise appreciate it if you also value the people they hire to cater to your whims and make car ownership a breeze. ARTICLE BY TOP GEAR PHILIPPINESDuring a nostalgic road trip to the northern tip of Luzon to celebrate the final run of the Isuzu Crosswind, we got to chat with Joseph Bautista, Isuzu Philippines division manager for marketing and sales, about the impending shift to the Euro 4 standard in 2018, and what it means for the local automotive manufacturing industry. Plus, he also shared some interesting facts about one of the enduring nameplates in the local automotive scene. Joseph was heavily involved during the introduction of the Crosswind many years ago, and it is very close to his heart. Q: Why the urgent shift to Euro 4? A: The environment is the issue, and the government wants to clean the air. But we did it in such a hurry. There are advantages and disadvantages to the shift, but even now we can see that Metro Manila isn't so smoggy anymore. Q: Why can't Isuzu just put a Euro 4-compliant engine into the Crosswind? A: Putting an engine is easy, but it's not just the engine. You have to change the transmission, the axle, the brakes (for the faster speeds), and modify the engine bay and chassis. It's an entire system, not just the engine. It involves an intake and exhaust system, and on-board diagnostics. The original engineers of the Crosswind from the late '90s who are the experts in the model might have moved on to different projects already. Q: How will local manufacturing be affected by discontinuation of the Crosswind? A: That will be about 25,000 vehicles. The Crosswind, and the Mitsubishi Adventure and L300, have the highest local content, so they support local parts manufacturing. There are many SMEs and second-tier suppliers involved. Parts include nuts and bolts, and small brackets. These three models support the value chain. When production stops, about 25,000 of 100,000 cars that are assembled in the Philippines will be gone. Sales are at 450,000, so one out of five vehicles is assembled in the Philippines, and we are removing 25% from that one. A lot will be lost. Plus, a lot of SMEs will face immediate shutdown because they primarily exist because of those three vehicles. Q: When and how will this go into effect? A: We can no longer register Euro 2 vehicles after December 31, 2017. Q: What will we be missing after this? A: After 2018, there will no longer be any vehicles like the Crosswind, Adventure, and L300. These three vehicles are everyday workhorses. These are relatively cheap, and everyone can afford them. These are the vehicles used for hauling laundry, food for catering, and school buses. There will be no more 10-seater AUVs or L300s that you can use for daily chores or for your small businesses. Will you use your MU-X for hauling goods from the market? It's the end of the era of the multipurpose vehicle. ARTICLE BY : TOP GEAR PHILIPPINES
Good day, sir. Just want to ask if it's a good decision to buy the Ford Ecosport Trend AT to use as an Uber. How about the Nissan Juke, Honda City or Mazda 2? What are their pros and cons should we choose to buy one of them? Which car would you recommend based on fuel efficiency, performance, and maintenance cost? Hoping you can enlighten us regarding which vehicle we should purchase. Your help will be much appreciated. Thank you. Sincerely, Menchu M. Hi, Menchu! Thanks for sending us an email. Regarding your choice for Uber, arguably the best type of vehicle to use is a common model precisely because parts will be plentiful and relatively affordable when looking through third-party suppliers. Know-how in terms of fixing and servicing the car will be more widespread and allow you to pick from a wider variety of independent car repair shops, too. Also, it will be easier to sell in a few years. In the list that you gave, the Honda City is the most common car. Since it is made locally, parts will be easier to find and should be cheaper versus cars that are rarer and made abroad. I dislike the Ford EcoSport because the dual-clutch transmission delivers a slightly jarring and harsh drive--especially when moving from dead stop on an incline. The Nissan Juke is a really fun compact crossover, but the rear seats are tight and cargo space out back is practically nonexistent. The Mazda 2 is also tight, something Uber riders won't appreciate. Aside from the City, the Hyundai Accent in diesel guise makes for a really good and economical car that's also very enjoyable to drive. The City and the Accent would be my top two choices if you'll be sticking to that budget range. Oh, and of course my ever favorite Honda Jazz, which will be even more practical than the City because of its hatchback body that allows you to dump more things in the back and pile them up. It looks good, too! Lastly, if it will be a purely business-related car, consider the Toyota Vios and Toyota Avanza. Both do seem a tad boring, lacking some style and pizzazz, but they're very reliable, affordable and quite cheap to maintain. Toyota is after all, a legend when it comes to durability and reliability. I hope this helps. Good luck on your choice and be safe on the road! Botchi Santos Consumer Editor Article by Top Gear Philippines
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